What is required for an amendment to be added to the Constitution?

For an amendment to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This rigorous process ensures that any change to the Constitution reflects a significant consensus across the nation, balancing the interests of both the federal legislature and the states.

The requirement for supermajority approval in Congress emphasizes the need for broad agreement on amendments before they can alter the foundational legal document of the United States. Similarly, the ratification by a large number of states underscores the necessity of a widespread agreement among the various states, each with their distinct needs and perspectives. This method was intentionally designed by the framers of the Constitution to allow for necessary changes while protecting against hasty alterations that might arise from fleeting political pressures.